Wigan v Arsenal
Kickoff: 11.45pm Saturday December 22nd at the DW Stadium
Wigan remains in the relegation zone following a 2-1 loss to Norwich last weekend. Once again the Latics never looked like mounting a fight against an impressive Norwich side, and as a result they’re now looking at being locked inside the bottom three come Christmas.
Arsenal recovered from being dumped out of the Capital One Cup by League Two Bradford by thrashing Reading last weekend. A Santi Cazorla hat trick inspired the Gunners to a 5-2 victory, which moved them back up to fifth on the table.
Arsenal needs to get a run of wins together, and Christmas could be the perfect time to do that.
Wigan 1-2 Arsenal
Manchester City v Reading
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday December 23rd at the Etihad Stadium
Manchester City successfully weathered Newcastle’s storm last weekend and came back from the North East with a crucial 3-1 win. It was a big victory for City, as it came on the back of their loss in the Manchester derby. They remain six points adrift of United, but they’ll know they still have over half a season to real in their local rivals.
Reading was hopelessly poor in their 5-2 loss to Arsenal last weekend. The Royals’ defending was absolutely shocking at times, and it was no surprise they conceded five goals in the end. They have now lost six matches in a row to send them to last on the table. With the champions now coming up, they could face Christmas day anchored to the bottom.
Manchester City should feast on Reading’s brittle defence and breeze to a simple victory.
Manchester City 4-0 Reading
Newcastle v QPR
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday December 23rd at St James’ Park
Newcastle is in an uncomfortable position on the table coming into the festive period. Their 3-1 loss to Manchester City at home last weekend meant are now just two points outside the drop zone. Alan Pardew signed an eight-year contract extension earlier this year, and now it’s time he earned it with a depleted squad.
A sensational Adel Taarabt double gave QPR their first win of the season against Fulham last weekend. The result extended their unbeaten run of four matches since Harry Redknapp took over, and it hauled them off the bottom of the table. The Rangers are still five points from safety, but there could be positive things coming in 2013.
Newcastle’s form has been so poor that I fancy QPR to nick a point away at St James’ Park this weekend.
Newcastle 1-1 QPR
Southampton v Sunderland
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday December 23rd at St Mary’s Stadium
Southampton had the weekend off last time around due to Chelsea’s Club World Cup venture, so they should be fit and fresh coming into this crucial match. They currently sit a point behind Sunderland on the table, and are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Sunderland’s 3-1 loss to Manchester United left Black Cats fans feeling a little indifferent. They got off to a shocking start, yet fought back well and earned themselves a late consolation goal. Although they’re only a point outside the relegation zone, I think there are good things to come from Martin O’Neill’s men.
This one is a real six-point game, and I think it will go down to the wire. In saying that, the two should cancel each other out.
Southampton 1-1 Sunderland
Tottenham v Stoke
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday December 23rd at White Hart Lane
Jan Vertonghen’s late goal earned Tottenham a hard-fought 1-0 win over Swansea last weekend. It kept the Spurs two points clear of their North London rivals Arsenal inside the top four, and helped them rebound from a poor loss to Everton the week before.
Stoke is currently on a seven-match unbeaten run following their 1-1 draw with Everton last weekend. Tony Pulis’s side remains incredibly difficult to break down, and that’s highlighted in the stat that they’ve only conceded four goals in their last nine matches.
Tottenham will face troubles in getting past a gritty Stoke defence, but I think if they can take their chances, they should be able to win.
Tottenham 1-0 Stoke
West Bromwich Albion v Norwich
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday December 23rd at the Hawthorns
West Brom continues to slide down the table following an incredible start to this season. The Baggies haven’t won in four matches now, which is simply unacceptable for a side aiming for a top four finish. Still, Steve Clarke probably wouldn’t have been expecting to make a play for a European spot at the start of the season, so he’ll be a happy man come Christmas day.
Norwich’s 2-1 win over Wigan last weekend extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 10 matches. It’s a fantastic turnaround from Chris Houghton’s men, considering they were favourites for relegation after waiting seven matches for their first win this season.
Both sides have played some fantastic football to begin this season, and I think they’ll play out an entertaining draw this weekend.
West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Norwich
West Ham v Everton
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday December 23rd at Upton Park
West Ham’s goalless draw away to West Brom last weekend sent them out of the top half of the table. It’s been an impressive start by Sam Allardyce’s men, however you get the feeling a few of his lads could use a break. Unfortunately, that’s coming right before the hectic Christmas period.
An appalling head butt from star midfielder Marouane Fellaini soured Everton’s 1-1 draw away to Stoke last weekend. The Belgian will now serve a three-match ban that will really hurt his side’s chances coming into the Christmas period.
Both sides are powerful and very physical. I think both managers would probably take a draw if offered that result prior to the match, so I think it will end goalless.
West Ham 0-0 Everton
Liverpool v Fulham
Kickoff: 4.30am Sunday December 23rd at Anfield
The optimism around Liverpool was swept away before their eyes when they crashed to a 3-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa last weekend. The Reds simply had no attacking threat as Villa absorbed their pressure before striking on the break. Brendan Rodgers will now be looking for a response this weekend against Fulham.
Fulham became the first team this season to lose to QPR last weekend. The result would have angered Martin Jol, whose side is in a precarious position just outside the relegation zone. Like Liverpool, the Cottagers have a huge task in responding to their defeat this weekend.
I’m tipping Liverpool to bounce back from their horrible defeat last weekend and get the points at home this time around.
Liverpool 2-0 Fulham
Swansea v Manchester United
Kickoff: 12.30am Monday December 24th at the Liberty Stadium
Swansea’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham last weekend meant two consecutive defeats for the Welsh side in the Premier League. The Swans are currently in 10th on the table, but if they had added consistency to their at times glittering performances, you can’t help but think they would be striving for a top four finish.
Manchester United backed up their victory against arch rivals City with a comfortable 3-1 win over Sunderland last weekend. The Red Devils are doing it easy at the moment, and will sit six points clear of their ‘noisy neighbours’ on Christmas day.
Swansea will give Manchester United all they’ve got this weekend, but I fancy the league leaders to provide all of the answers and show their title credentials.
Swansea 1-2 Manchester United
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Kickoff: 3.00am Monday December 24th at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea suffered Club World Cup heartbreak when they lost the final in Japan to Brazilian side Corinthians. They then recovered from the defeat, and a hint of jet lag, by thrashing Leeds 5-1 in the Capital One Cup quarter final in midweek.
Aston Villa’s 3-1 win over Liverpool would have done wonders for their confidence. After thrashing Norwich in the League Cup the week before, it extended Villa’s unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions and put them up to 14th on the table.
If Chelsea can survive a bout of fatigue following their round-the-world exploits, they should be able to see of the threat of a rejuvenated Aston Villa.
Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa
Riley Beveridge has just concluded the first year of his Bachelor of Sports Journalism degree at La Trobe University. You can follow his Premier League views at his Twitter account: @RileyBev.
